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2007 News & Events December News The Firm is pleased to announce Ann M. Sharpe, Esq. and Mary Ann Racicot, CPA have joined the firm. Cris Cioffi has been elected Secretary of the Ellis Hospital Board of Directors, where she also Chairs the Strategic Planning Committee. Cris Cioffi has contributed a chapter to a work entitled Work, Life and Family Imbalance: How to Level the Playing Field, edited by Michele A. Paludi and Presha E. Neidermeyer, faculty at Union Graduate College. Her chapter is called Finding and Keeping the Best and the Brightest - Flexible Policies in a Small Workplace, and emanated from the business model used at CSW. It is published by Praeger Publishers. The firm has elected to contribute to Toys for Tots and Dress for Success. We will be collecting new toys for Toys for Tots and pantyhose for Dress for Success. The pantyhose collected will be arranged as a wreath and presented at the Capital District Women's Bar Association Christmas Dinner on December 4, 2007. ____________________________________________________________________ November News As a group, the firm decided to concentrate their charitable efforts, and focused on providing donations to the City Mission of Schenectady. Did you know that for $1.74 you can provide a Thanksgiving Dinner for a person in need? As a group that enjoys sharing meals together, this donation was an easy choice for us. ____________________________________________________________________ October News The CSW firm participated in a staff retreat with a focus on team work. This year, they skipped the course on ropes, but they did engage in some interesting challenges that focused on problem solving. One of the favorite activities was comparing their answers to a questionnaire that highlighted our generational differences. They are looking forward to continuing this tradition in 2008. The firm was proud to be a sponsor of The Legal Project's 12th Annual Pro Bono Event which was held at the State Museum on Albany. Michelle Wildgrube currently serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors of The Legal Project, an organization dedicated to providing legal services to the working poor of our community. Susan and Nancy also contributed to the event by donating items to the silent auction. June News Michelle Wildgrube presented a seminar on Real Estate Closing Basics for attorneys at The Legal Project offices on June 4, 2007. This is the seventh year that Michelle has presented the seminar which is a requirement for attorneys joining the Affordable Housing Attorney Assistance (AHAA) Program of The Legal Project. Attorneys attending the seminar received Continuing Legal Education credits and agreed to represent a homebuyer on pro bono basis. The AHAA program works with community based Affordable Housing agencies to assist homebuyers who are unable to afford legal fees. May News On Saturday, May 12, the CSW Adventure Crew comprised of attorneys Crystal Doolity and Samantha Whitney, and Paralegals Kathleen Donnelly, Connie Carrigan and Sara Clark tackled the Hudson River Gorge with Adirondack River Outfitters. The 17 mile rafting trip is the longest stretch of white water in New York State. No CSW employees fell out of the raft. On May 23, 2007, Crystal Doolity was a co-presenter on Advance Directives to the Adult Outreach Program at Bellevue Reformed Church. The presentation was aimed at informing individuals about Health Care Proxies, Living Wills and Powers of Attorney. On May 23, 2007, Cris Cioffi will receive The Katherine S. Rozendaal Award at a ceremony held at the Glen Sanders Mansion. Cris was nominated by the Junior League of Schenectady for her dedication to community service. On May 19, 2007, Crystal Doolity completed the Dennis Devlin Memorial 5K Run in Washingtonville, New York. The 6th annual run was held in memory of NYFD Battalion Chief Dennis Devlin and proceeds were donated to the Washingtonville Scholarship Fund and the NY Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. On May 13, 2007, Michelle Wildgrube was awarded the Thanks Badge II at the final Annual Meeting for Girl Scouts, Mohawk Pathways Council. The meeting was a celebration of the council as it moves towards merger with Girl Scouts of the Adirondack Council; Girl Scouts, Hudson Valley Council; and Girl Scouts, North Country Council into Girls Scouts, Northeastern New York Council, Inc. Michelle has served as Board Chair of the Mohawk Pathways Council for the past two years and has also co-chaired the Council Realignment Committee. The Thanks Badge II is the highest adult recognition in Girl Scouting. On May 2, 2007, Deb Slezak spoke at the NYSBA Basic Elder Law Practice Seminar held in Albany. This full-day practical skills program was designed for any attorney looking to understand what elder law practice is all about, or who were looking for a quick refresher course to bring them up to speed on the basic knowledge needed to advise the elderly in New York. The event was held at The Clarion Hotel of Albany (formerly the Albany Q) at 3 Watervliet Avenue Extension. __________________________________________________________________ April News Michelle Wildgrube was elected to the position of Secretary of the Federation of Bar Associations, Fourth Judicial District at the Federation's Annual Meeting in Montreal on April 28, 2007. The Federation of Bar Associations is comprised of the Bar Associations for the Fourth District which includes the area from Schenectady to the Canadian Border and Watertown to the Vermont Border. Michelle has served as the delegate from the Schenectady County Bar Association since 2002. On April 12, Cris Cioffi and Crystal Doolity attended the New York State Bar Association Elder Law Section Executive Committee Meeting at Embassy Suites Hotel in New York City. ____________________________________________________________________ March News On March 8, 2007, CSW sponsored the Amsterdam Family YMCA Youth Awards Breakfast. The Schenectady County Bar Association held it's 11th Annual Estate Planning Meeting on Thursday, March 15, 2007 at the Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia, NY. Cris Cioffi presented on "Planning with Promissory Notes and Annuities" and Deb Slezak presented "Personal Care Contracts". On March 26, 2007, Michelle Wildgrube gave a Legally Speaking presentation on The Legal Project's programs and opportunities for the Diversity Study Group of the American Association of University Women, Schenectady County Chapter. On March 27, 2007, Michelle Wildgrube presented two topics, Landlord Remedies and Ethics, for a Seminar on Advanced Issues in Landlord-Tenant Law held at the Desmond in Albany. ____________________________________________________________________ February News CSW participated in the American Heart Association's Wear Red Day fundraiser. On Friday, Febraury 16, CSW staff wore jeans and red to show support and raise awareness of heart disease in women. ____________________________________________________________________ January News Cris Cioffi, Deb Slezak and Crystal Doolity traveled to New York City the week of January 22 to particpate in the New York State Bar Associations Annual Meeting at the Marriott Marquis. They attended various section programs as well as the Elder Law executive committee meeting. ____________________________________________________________________ |
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